Mechanized or motored retractable enclosure panels and their support brackets

ABSTRACT

Mechanized or motor activated retractable enclosure-panels and custom brackets for any style open-air-vehicle having roof structures, including cars and boats, is taught. Installation takes less than 20 minutes with no drilling required, in most cases. The system includes brackets to directly rotably support the panels. The brackets are bolted directly onto roof supports via preexisting roof-support bolt holes, or onto the track bar that comes with some specialty roofs. A mechanized and/or motorized back-panel completely protects passengers and cargo from the elements using vent flaps for complete corner coverage. Rotational mechanized activators include pull-chains, roller pulleys, and spring-mechanized activators that can be motorized. For vehicles not fitted with a roof structure, a support frame for supporting retractable, mechanized and/or motorized panels is designed. Only a single protective panel is required per vehicle side regardless of vehicle size. Only four brackets are required to support three panels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional Application for Patent claims the benefit ofProvisional Application No. 61/107,658 filed Oct. 22, 2008 andNon-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/604,080 filed Oct. 22, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to open-car enclosures and, moreparticularly, to an inventive concept that provides brackets customdesigned for each model car to support driver's side, passenger's side,and rear enclosure panels. Installation of the brackets require noalteration to the car, require only about 20 minutes to install, and areattached to the car's vertical or horizontal pre-existing roof supportsand roof support bolt holes. Only 4 brackets are required to support thethree panels that may be mechanized or motorized.

The background information discussed below is presented to betterillustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. Thisbackground information is not admitted prior art.

Electric golf-carts (officially referred to as a golf car because it isself-propelled) were originally designed to carry two people and theirgolf clubs around a golf course. More recently, open-air cars, whichclassification includes golf-carts, come in a wide range of styles andare frequently used to convey from two to up to ten, and occasionallymore, passengers at speeds of about less than 15 mph (24 km/h). Thesmaller cars are generally around 4 feet wide by 8 feet long and 6 feethigh and weigh from about 900 to 1,000 pounds.

Originally gas-powered, open-air cars, now mainly electric powered, aremass produced for private consumer use. A variety of styles and sizes ofopen-air cars is now used in many communities because of their greatlyreduced pollution potential, lack of noise, and increased safety forpedestrians and other cars (due to slow speeds). When built for generaltransportation the open-air cars are referred to as NeighborhoodElectric Vehicles (NEV). Although, these carts resemble the carts madeexclusively for use on the golf course, their use has extended to yearround, all weather use.

The demand for NEVs continues to grow for several reasons. For example,many citizens of Peachtree City, Ga. regularly use the carts to travelthe many miles of golf-cart paths that link the city together. The highschool population of Peachtree relies so heavily on golf-cart travel toand from school, the local high school has provided a parking lotdedicated to student golf-carts. In areas that restrict, or prohibit,the use of fossil fuel powered motor vehicles most residents andvisitors rely on NEVs. The year-round use of NEVs in retirementcommunities is steadily the most popular form of transportation.

The rise in popularity of the open-air cars, including golf-carts, hasled to the modification of the cars to suit their intended use. Open-aircars typically come with a roof, often referred to as a “sun-roof” and awindshield panel of various designs. Additional modifications,especially for carts used mainly as golf cars, include: ball cleaners,cooler trays, upgraded motor or speed controller, lift kits, and covers.Covers, also known as enclosures, are particularly well-suited forprotecting the occupants of the car from the elements, including wind,cold, snow, and rain, and are especially appreciated in the moreinclement weather seasons. Early covers were constructed as“throw-overs”, where a single, very large cloth would be thrown over theentire vehicle to cover the sides as well as the top. A strap sewn ontothe inner surface of the cover was used to secure the cover to the caronce it was positioned over the roof and hang down the sides. It wassoon realized, that as most cars had roofs, the roof covering part ofthe throw-over was not needed and, thus, added unnecessary cost andweight. Currently, enclosures generally consist of panels that hang fromthe roof area to protect the occupants from the weather. Two-seateropen-car enclosures are constructed of three enclosure-panels, one foreach side and one for the back, with each panel having an affixednon-ratable bar or elongated-tab extending along the length of the topedge of the panel. The bar or tab slides into a track that has beenmounted to the roof of the cart for that purpose. Screws are often usedto affix the track to the roof. When deployed, the cover hangs from thetrack toward the ground. Toward the lower edge of the cover there may befasteners to engage with mating fasteners attached to the cart. The topportion of such enclosures is generally made from a transparentmaterial, while the bottom portion is made from a durable opaquematerial. In this manner, occupants of the car can see out of it whenthe enclosure is deployed. When the occupants of the car do not want thecover deployed, they may raise the cover toward the roof, and fasten thecover in place using straps, or the like, that may adhere to a valence,or awning, that is attached about the roof for the purpose of providinga support for the un-deployed panel. Each time another seating row isadded to the cart, another set of panels is also added. Thus,four-seaters have two panels per side for a total of five panels, notcounting the windshield panel. Six seaters require seven panels and soon.

SUMMARY

The present inventor recognized that many who own open-air cars such asgolf carts wish to have front, side, and rear protective panelsinstalled in their cart. Installation of such enclosure-panels howeveris difficult, time-consuming, and requires modifying the cart, whichmeans making irreversible alterations to the cart. Once such protectivepanels are installed, they are difficult to deploy and un-deploy. Forexample, when a side enclosure-panel is in its deployed position and auser seeks to un-deploy the panel, the user must first detach each panelfrom its adjacent panels, manually roll the panel about itself, andwhile holding the panel in the rolled position with one hand, mustposition a strap, or other holding device, about the rolled panel andthen, with only the other hand must affix the strap to the frame so thatthe panel will stay in the rolled position. Many people are physicallynot able to accomplish this, and others feel it is an unnecessaryannoyance. Moreover, when a user would like to deploy the coveringpanel, the holding strap must be un-affixed in order for the panel to berolled-out. If a user is not strong, and/or dexterous, enough to supportthe panel in its rolled position while simultaneously releasing thestrap, the panel could move to the deployed position in a fast anddangerous movement as gravity accelerates the heavier, lower section ofthe panel toward the ground. Deploying and un-deploying enclosure-panelsincreases in difficulty and becomes more time consuming as the number ofpassenger per car increases. For example, a four-seater car requires twoseparate panels per side, as the weight of one panel wide enough tocover a front and back seat side area is too great for most people tosupport while rolling and unrolling. Moreover, it is not only the weightof the panels, but the number of panels that must be separately andmanually deployed and undeployed, that causes the job to becomeunwieldy. For example, a four-seater car requires five panels to bemanually rolled and unrolled, a six-seater requires seven, and aneight-seater requires nine panels. Open-air-cars that seat up to 10people are becoming more common. A ten-seater car requires eleven panelsto be manually rolled and unrolled. For example theme parks, resorts,and hotels rely on the multiple seat cars regularly and although some ofthese cars are operated by professionals hired for that purpose, thetime and energy is still unacceptable. Home ownership of multiple-seateropen-air cars, is also growing, For example, a host living near a beachor other attraction, often prefers to transport his guests to and fromhis home as one group instead of making multiple trips to transport hisentire party, thus requiring ownership of a multi-seater car.

Accordingly, the present inventor developed an inventive concept thatlead him to conceive a set of principles to provide for the installationof mechanized and/or motored activated enclosure-panels for open-carsand open-boats of any size or style. The invention as illustrated is forvehicles having an existing roof structure, although, a frame madeespecially to hold the retractable, mechanized and/or motorized panelsis contemplated for vehicles that do not currently have an existing roofstructure. The first principle of the present invention is to provide aset of brackets for the easy installation of protective panels. Thesecond principle was to design the brackets to be installed with aminimum of effort and in a time as short as twenty minutes and,importantly, enable bracket installation without requiring anyalteration to the cart. Another principle provides for this enhancedinstallation into the different styles of cars. Each car has a differentroof and roof support design and to provide for installation using a carpreexisting bolt holes, so as to eliminate modifying the cart, thebrackets are designed for each style cart. To provide for the bracketsand panels to be installed in less than 20 minutes with no drillingrequired in most cases, the inventor invented brackets that support thespindle about which a panel is wound or unwound that get bolted directlyinto preexisting roof bolts holes of the roof supports. Thus, taughtbelow are several styles of brackets required for the installation ofthe panels in variously styled cars. The brackets include bracketsdesigned and structured for installation in a Club Car Precedent twoseater golf cart, a Club Car DS four seater golf cart having a CustomGolf Car Supply Roof with a track system, a Club Car Precedent fourseater golf cart having a Custom Golf Car Supply Roof with a tracksystem, a Club Car DS two seater golf cart and an EZ-Go Golf Car. Thebracket designs presented here are just an example of the designsrequired to provide enclosure panels on the wide variety of openvehicles that would benefit from such panels. For a two-seater Precedentmodel there can be a hole drilled through the elongate bracket to accepta set screw to provide extra support for the bracket against thestanchion. Additionally, in the models that use a custom made roof thatemploys a track bar connected to the roof about the interior perimeteredge, the brackets are attached to the track bar using screw-typeconnectors that fit through the apertures drilled through the bracketand track bar.

As mentioned above, currently available enclosure panels have either anon-rotable rod or a thick, but narrow hem like feature at the topboundary of the enclosure. This rod or hem is used to attach the panelto the car by inserting the rod or hem into a track that must beinstalled on the roof or roof frame for this purpose. Thus, disclosedherein then, are the means needed and the methods used to make, install,support, and use enclosure-panels that can take advantage of mechanizedand/or motorized means of deployment and un-deployment without requiringinstallation of a track, as is required by others. Moreover, theprinciples taught herein make multiple panels on the sides of open-aircars that carry more than two passengers redundant and no longerrequired. Only one panel is required per side regardless of the numberof passengers because the mechanized and/or motorized structure providefor ease of opening any width panel provided by the present invention.This is a saving of time during use because there are no longer separateside panels that must be separated from, or attached to, their adjacentpanels before they could be un-deployed or deployed, respectively. Thereis also a savings of time and of cost during manufacture. The principlesof the invention include ways to protect passengers and the interior ofthe car from open spaces at corners and to protect the storage unitsthat often are included within the rear portion of the cart.

To un-deploy, or retract, a panel, it is first detached from itsadjacent panels. In the examples provided herein, the detachment isachieved by unzipping the zipper-connection attaching a panel to anadjacent panel. In the case of a driver's-side panel, the panel isdetached from the “windshield” panel and from the rear-opening panel.Once the panel to be undeployed is detached, it may be undeployed by, asin the example provided, activating a pull-chain. Simply pulling on thechain will cause the panel to roll-up. In its rolled-up position, thepanel is secure and will not unroll until the pull-chain is activated inthe opposite direction. To keep the end of the panel from flapping inthe wind, snaps, are available on the panel to be snapped into availablemating snaps. To un-retract, or deploy, the panel, the pull-chain ispulled in the opposite direction. Once the panel is fully deployed, itis ready to be reattached (zipped) to its adjacent panels and snappedinto place, this time using the snaps that are available on the panel tobe snapped on snaps that are installed on the body of the cart. Withrespect to the side panels, occupants may exit and enter the car byopening the panel. In each side panel there is a zipper in approximatelythe center of the panel extending from the top of the panel to thebottom of the panel to provide an opening in the panel for entry into orexit out of the car.

The two side panels are right- and left-hand mirror images of eachother. The back panel is made to protect both the passengers andwhatever is in the boot from the elements. To do this, the back panelhas side flaps to provide for corner coverage. To retract a back panel,its side panels are detached from each of the driver's-side panel andthe passenger's side panels. Once the back panel is fully detached, itsside flaps are folded up against the main portion of the back panel. Inthis configuration, the back panel is now ready to be retracted and, asin the example provided, the pull-chain is used to retract the backpanel. The panels are available, if desired, in a motorized version sothat opening or closing panels may be accomplished by pushing a buttonor working a lever. Thus, each panel includes a rotable spindle havingeither a spring-action end or a panel height-adjustment mechanism, or arotable spindle that is controlled by a motor. Only a single panel isrequired per side of open-air vehicle regardless of the size of thevehicle or the number of passengers which it is designed to carry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that these and other objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention may be more fully comprehended and appreciated, theinvention will now be described, by way of example, with reference tospecific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in appended drawingswherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral figures. It should be understood that these drawings only depictpreferred embodiments of the present invention and are not therefore tobe considered limiting in scope, thus, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view illustrating a golf-cart without anyside covers.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a golf-cart, as shown in FIG. 1, withthe addition of the golf-cart enclosure in the undeployed positionfollowing the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged side elevation view of a cart-roof-frame,sunroof, and a golf-cart enclosure panel of the present inventioninstalled onto a roof-frame stanchion, in an undeployed position, andactivated using a pull-chain mechanism.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged side elevation view of a cart-roof-frame,sunroof, with one golf-cart enclosure panel of the present inventioninstalled under the roof, in an undeployed position, and activated usinga motorized mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a golf-cart, as shown in FIG. 1,sunroof with a single golf-cart enclosure panel of the present inventioninstalled onto a roof-frame stanchion and in a deployed position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of a cart frame and sunroofwith one golf-cart enclosure panel of the present invention installedonto a roof-frame stanchion and in a deployed position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation view of an enclosure panel designed foruse on the rear opening of a car.

FIG. 7 a-7 c are plan views of brackets designed to fit a Club CarPrecedent golf car fitted with a Custom Golf Car Supply roof.

FIG. 7D is a perspective view of a two-seater Club Car Precedent golfcar with a set of brackets, as shown in FIG. 7 a-7 c, installed withthree enclosure panels in place.

FIG. 7E is a perspective view of a set of brackets, as shown in FIG. 7a-7 c, positioned as if installed with three enclosure panels in place.

FIG. 8 a-8 c are plan views of brackets designed to fit a DS four-seaterCustom Golf Car Supply.

FIG. 9 a-9 c are plan views of brackets designed to fit a PrecedentCustom Golf Car Supply that is a four-seater golf car.

FIG. 10 a-10 c are plan views of brackets designed to fit a DStwo-seater.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a set of brackets installed in anEZ-Go cart with three enclosure panels in place.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a set of brackets, as shown installedin FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cart having a vent panel.

A LIST OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS AND PARTS TO WHICH THEY REFER OPENSPACE

-   0 Fold line.-   1 Fold line.-   2 Fold line.-   3 a Fold line.-   3 b Fold line.-   4 Top edge of transparent rear panel 88.-   4 a Fold line.-   4 b Fold line.-   5 Hook and loop attachments.-   5D Hook and loop attachments that are positioned on flap 82D.-   6 Bottom edges of side flaps 82.-   7 A golf-cart.-   8 Fold line.-   10 An enclosure according to the principles of the present    invention.-   13 A roof for golf-cart 7.-   16 A seat of golf-cart 7.-   19 A steering wheel of golf-cart 7.-   22 A foot pedal of golf-cart 7.-   25 Roof stanchions that make up the frame used to support roof 13.-   31 An enclosure-panel, according to the principles of the present    invention.-   34 Brackets.-   37 Support wheel.-   40 Spindle (rotating shaft about which a panel is wound and    unwound).-   41 Apertures to accept bolts.-   42 a Bracket part.-   42 a Opposing bracket part.-   42 c Bracket part.-   43 Flexible pull-chain, roller pulley, or spring mechanized    activator.-   46 Translucent upper portion of an enclosure 31 for golf-cart 7.-   49 Opaque lower portion of an enclosure 31 for golf-cart 7.-   52 Zipper.-   55 Fasteners.-   58 Lower edge of enclosure 31.-   61 Fastener mates for fasteners 55.-   66 Aperture for receiving spring end of spindle panel.-   70 Motor for motorized the deployment and un-deployment of the    panels.-   76 Bolt receiving aperture.-   76 a Bolt receiving aperture.-   78 Tab for tab receiving aperture of panel spindle.-   80 A rear enclosure-panel for the rear side opening of an open-air    car.-   82D A foldable side flap on passenger's side.-   82P A foldable side flap on passenger's side.-   82 d A rear bottom driver's flap.-   82 p A rear bottom passenger's flap.-   84D A zipper attachment on flap on driver's-side.-   84P A zipper attachment on flap on passenger's side.-   86D A fold-line on driver's-side.-   86P A fold-line on passenger's side.-   88 A transparent section of the rear enclosure-panel 80.-   90 A rotable spindle.-   92 A section of bracket 100.-   94 A section of bracket 100.-   95 Bracket for both front-end sides of Custom Golf Car Supply's    Precedent two seater.-   96 A section of bracket 100.-   98 A section of bracket 100.-   100 Bracket for left rear-end driver's-side Custom Golf Car Supply's    Precedent two seater.-   102 Bracket for right rear-end passenger's side Custom Golf Car    Supply's Precedent two seater.-   104 A section of bracket 102.-   106 A section of bracket 102.-   108 A section of bracket 102.-   110 A section of bracket 102.-   120 Bracket for both front-end sides of Custom Golf Car Supply's DS    four seater.-   122 Bracket for left rear-end (driver's-side) Custom Golf Car    Supply's DS four seater.-   124 Bracket for right rear-end (passenger's-side) Custom Golf Car    Supply's DS four seater.-   125 A section of bracket 120.-   126 A section of bracket 120.-   127 A section of bracket 120.-   130L A section of bracket 122.-   130R A section of bracket 124.-   132L A section of bracket 122.-   132R A section of bracket 122.-   134L A section of bracket 122.-   134R A section of bracket 122.-   136L A section of bracket 122.-   136R A section of bracket 122-   137 a Tab for tab receiving aperture.-   137 b Tab for tab receiving aperture.-   140 Bracket for both front-end sides of Custom Golf Car Supply's    Precedent four seater.-   142 A section of bracket 140.-   144 A section of bracket 140.-   146 A section of bracket 140.-   150 Bracket for left rear-end (driver's-side) Custom Golf Car    Supply's Precedent four seater.-   152L A section of bracket 150.-   154L A section of bracket 150.-   156L A section of bracket 150.-   158L A section of bracket 150.-   155 Bracket for right rear-end (passenger-side) Custom Golf Car    Supply's Precedent four seater.-   152R A section of bracket 155.-   154R A section of bracket 155.-   156R A section of bracket 155.-   158R A section of bracket 155.-   159 Set screw aperture.-   160 Bracket for both front-end sides of a Club Car DS two seater.-   161 A section of bracket 160.-   162 A section of bracket 160.-   164 Bracket for rear passenger side of a Club Car DS two seater.-   165R A section of bracket 164.-   165L A section of bracket 174.-   166R A section of bracket 164.-   166L A section of bracket 174.-   167R A section of bracket 164.-   167L A section of bracket 174-   168R A section of bracket 164.-   168L A section of bracket 174.-   169R A section of bracket 164.-   169L A section of bracket 174-   174 Bracket for rear driver's side of Custom Golf Car Supply's DS    two seater.-   176 A brace.-   202 Bracket set for the driver's side of an EZ-Go cart.-   203 Bracket set for the passenger's side of an EZ-Go cart.-   204 Front bracket for the passenger's side of an EZ-Go cart.-   205 Front bracket for the driver's side of an EZ-Go cart.-   206 Rear bracket for the passenger's side of an EZ-Go cart-   207 Rear bracket for the driver's side of an EZ-Go cart.-   250 Vent panel.-   252 Slide track.-   254 Welt on vent panel 250.-   256 Vent panel 250 zipper 256.

DEFINITIONS

Mechanization, as used herein, refers to providing human operators withmachinery that assists them with the muscular requirements of work. Itcan also refer to the use of machines to replace manual labor if themechanization includes powering the mechanism by a motor.

Motorized, as used herein, refers to supplying a source of power to dowhat would otherwise be done manually or non-motorized mechanically.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.In certain instances, details which are not necessary for anunderstanding of the present invention or which render other detailsdifficult to perceive may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now, with more particularity, to the drawings, it should benoted that the disclosed invention is disposed to embodiments in varioussizes, shapes, and forms. Open-air cars come in many different models ofa variety of sizes and shapes including cars for two people to ten ormore people, and with or without having storage compartments for golfingand/or other types of equipment or objects. Each model requiresenclosure panels that must be designed to meet their particular needs.The mechanized or motorized retractable enclosures made according to theprinciples of the present invention are contemplated for use on any typeof cart or vehicle, such as wagons and ATVs, including vehicles for useon the water. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are providedwith the understanding that the present disclosure is intended asillustrative and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiments described herein.

The principles of the present invention are directed towards a productthat includes brackets custom designed for individual car styles, forrotable enclosure panels that are able to provide complete protectionfrom weather from both sides, the rear and the corners. The bracketstaught herein are able to be installed in a cart quickly easily byremoving the preexisting bolts that are securing the car's roof to theroof support structures from their preexisting bolt holes, adjusting thebrackets so that the bracket's attachment bolt holes are in line withthe preexisting bolt holes, and reinserting the bolts. This part of theinstallation takes less than twenty minutes, can be accomplished withoutany specialized tools, and does not require any modification to the car.The enclosures taught herein have from one to three or moreenclosure-panels. Each panel is easily and quickly deployed andun-deployed using the mechanized or motorized roller mechanism accordingto the principles of the present invention. No longer does a user haveto roll a panel about its roller by hand and no longer does a user havesupport the rolled panel until it is fastened in place. Moreover, nolonger are multiple panels per side required. Because of the ease ofdeployment and un-deployment of the panels of the present invention,only one panel, regardless of width, is required per side, which meanssaving on the amount of materials of making, as well as saving on thetime of making and of using. According to the principles of the presentinvention, each panel of the enclosure is rolled open and closedindependently by action of a pull-chain, or the like, a spring-rollermechanism, or a motorized-roller. Once each panel is rolled-up in itsun-deployed position, it is simply snapped closed using the snaps thatare provided as part of the system.

FIG. 1 illustrates golf-cart 7 which is an example of a typicalopen-air-car. Such cars generally have one or more seats 16, the carillustrated seats two people, although cars seating four to ten or morepeople are becoming more common, steering wheel 19, and foot pedal 22that are used to accelerate or decelerate car 7, as desired by thedriver. Golf-cart 7 is equipped with sun-roof 13 to protect the car'spassengers from the elements, but otherwise leaves the passengersvulnerable from the effects of cold and wet due to low temperatures,wind, and rain. Roof 13, often referred to as a “sun canopy” istypically supported by a roof frame comprising individual stanchions 25.As is well-known in the art, there are many styles of cars, each havingtheir own style of roof and roof stanchions. Additionally, there areroof makers who make specialty roofs that are desired by many and, thus,many car owners replace the roof that came with the car by one of thespecialty roofs. It should be understood, therefore that the stanchionsand roof designs illustrated in the accompanying figures are only a fewof many styles.

FIG. 2 illustrates one panel of enclosure 10 in its un-deployedposition, that is, rolled-up and secured out-of-the way by use ofself-supplied fasteners, such as commonly available snap fasteners.Enclosure side-panel 31, made according to the principles of the presentinvention, designed for use on the driver's-side of golf-cart 7, ismounted to roof stanchions 25 using brackets 34 that are more clearlyillustrated in FIGS. 7A to 11 b. Flexible pull-chain 43 is used foractivating retractable panel 10. Regardless of the number of passengersthe car is designed to hold, only one panel 10 is required. Because theretraction and un-retraction of panel 10 is mechanized and/or motorized,panel 10 is able to be constructed as wide as required to provide forthe panel to be a secure, protective, enclosure for all passengers. Thiswould not be possible without the mechanization and/or motorization ofthe rotation of the panel because the panel otherwise would be too heavyand too unwieldy to deploy and un-deploy manually.

FIG. 3A, an enlarged side elevation view, illustrates enclosure-panel31, again in its un-deployed, that is, rolled-up position, asillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A indicate brackets 34 that, in thisexample, are securely fastened to roof stanchions 25 with attachmentmeans 12, such as the screws (not shown), to securely supportenclosure-panel 31 to the cart. Rotatably attached to each bracket 34 issupport wheel 37, with spindle 40 (spindle can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5)being attached to the support wheel. In the un-deployed position,enclosure-panel 31 is fully and securely wound around spindle 40. Amechanism for rolling and unrolling enclosure-panel 31 is taught. In theexample illustrated, the mechanism is a roller pulley, such as pulleychain 43 that may be provided on one of the support wheels 37. Activator43 provides for a user to rotate wheel 37, which in turn rotates spindle40, causing enclosure-panel 31 to roll or unroll from spindle 40,depending on the direction in which the wheel 37 is turned. By pullingon the activator 43, the enclosure-panel may be deployed or un-deployed,as desired. It is to be understood that a pulley chain is only onemechanism that may be used to provide for easy and rapid mechanizedrolling and unrolling of enclosure-panel 31. In addition to any type offlexible pull-chain, a roller pulley, or spring mechanized activator,could just as easy be used. Additionally, any mechanized or motorizedmeans is contemplated for use. The choice of means depends entirely onthe desires of the user.

FIG. 3B, another enlarged side elevation view, illustratesenclosure-panel 31, again in its un-deployed, rolled-up position,secured to horizontal roof stanchions using brackets 34. FIG. 3B alsoillustrates motor 70 providing for the motorized deployment andun-deployment of panel 31. The motor is activated, in this embodiment,by a switch on the dashboard provided for that purpose.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate enclosure-panel 31 in a deployed position. Inthis position, each end of spindle 40 is illustrated rotably attached toeach support wheel 37 which in turn is supported by bracket 34.Enclosure-panel 31 includes transparent upper portion 46 and opaquelower portion 49. Enclosure-panel 31 also may include zipper 52. Whenzipper 52 is unzipped, the occupants are allowed to easily exit or entergolf-cart 7 even with panel 31 in its deployed position. Fasteners 55may be attached onto the inner surface of panel 31 near its lower edge58 to mate with fasteners 61 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided on car 7.

Although the figures, thus far, have illustrated only enclosure-panel 31as it is designed for use on the driver's-side of the cart, theinvention also contemplates enclosure-panels for the passenger side(which are a mirror images of the driver's-side panel) and for the rearside of the cart. FIG. 6, an enlarged elevation view, illustratesrear-opening back enclosure panel 80. Back panel 80 is made to protectboth the passengers of the vehicle and whatever cargo may be in theboot, or similar cargo holding space, from the elements. To do this, themajor portion of back panel 80 is designed to be transparent, water andwind proof panel 88. Transparent panel 88 is sized and shaped to enclosethe entire back side of the vehicle and provides for the panel to wrapabout the back corners of the seat or boot of the vehicle by providingfor open spaces 0 on each bottom corner of transparent panel 88.Extending nearly the entire length of each side of transparent panel 88are opaque side flaps 82 that provide for secure coverage of theotherwise open corner space. A zipper attachment 84 is provided alongnearly the entire length of side flap 82D and side flap 82P. Zipperattachments 84D and 84P provide for the attachment of side flap 82D andside flap 82P to the driver's-side panel and the passenger's side panel,respectively to securely enclose the rear interior of the vehicle. Eachside flap 82D and side flap 82P extends from approximately top edge 4 oftransparent panel 88 past bottom edge 3 of transparent panel 88 tobottom edge 6 of each one side flaps 82D and 82P, thus creatinginner-oriented extension flaps 82P and 82D to extend toward each other.Extension flaps 82P and 82D are fitted with hook and loop attachmenttabs 5D and 5P. Extension flap 82D is fitted with hook and loopattachment tabs 5D on the side of the material facing toward thevehicle. Extension flap 82P is fitted with hook and loop attachment tabs5P on the side of the material that faces away from the vehicle.Extension flap 82P is fitted with only one vertical strip of hook andloop attachment tabs 5P while extension flap 82D is fitted with twospaced vertical strips of hook and loop attachment tabs 5D. Thisprovides for extension flap 82P to be attached to extension flap 82D ateither of its two strips providing for either a looser or tighter fit ofpanel 80 about the back of the vehicle. To retract, that is, to roll-up,back panel 80, extension flaps 82D and 82P are detached from thedriver's-side panel and the passenger's side panel, respectively. Onceback panel 80 is detached, extension flaps 82D and 82P are folded towardeach other, that is, are folded up against portion 88 of back panel 80along fold-lines 86D and 86P, respectively. To keep extension flaps 82Dand 82P folded securely for roll-up, hook and loop attachments 5 areprovided on the upper edge of panel 80 and on extension flaps 82D and82P, as discussed above. Once secured in its folded position, the backpanel is sized and ready to be retracted about rotable spindle 90 thatmay be mechanized and/or motorized.

The brackets 34, illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B will now bedescribed in further detail. As mentioned, each style of open-air carhas custom designed roof supports and roof, and as also mentioned above,some car users replace the roof that came with the car by a specialtydesigned roof. Thus, each car requires brackets that conform to its roofand roof-support structure. Such custom designed brackets have beenprovided for in examples of the present invention, but are not solimited. Depending on the style of the car, the brackets may beinstalled on the vertically oriented stanchions of the roof frame oronto horizontally oriented roof supports. Examples of custom designedbrackets are illustrated in FIGS. 7 a-7E, FIGS. 8 a-8 c, FIGS. 9 a-9 c,FIGS. 10 a-10 c, and FIGS. 11A and 11 b, as outlined in Table 1 below.Note that the brackets are designed to minimize the machining requiredto manufacture the brackets. One way the bracket design saves onmaterial and manufacturing cost is to have rear brackets for each of thedriver's and passenger's side panels also serve as brackets for the rearpanel, thus requiring only four brackets for three panels. Another waythe bracket design saves on material and manufacturing cost is to usethe same front bracket for both the driver's side and the passenger'sside. A bracket for one side of the cart is shaped by bending thebracket in one direction (using the bend lines as described above) andfor use on the other side of the car the bracket is turned to its secondside for the bending/shaping process. This saves tremendous amounts oftime and materials and dye costs in the manufacture of the brackets.

TABLE 1 Club Car DS 4 Seater with “Custom Golf Car Supply” Roof withClub Car Precedent 2 Seater Track system. FIG. 7a Front left (driver) &FIG. 8a Front left (driver) & right right (passenger) (passenger) FIG.7b Drivers Rear FIG. 8b Drivers Rear FIG. 7c Passenger Rear FIG. 8cPassenger Rear FIG. 7D Cart with brackets installed FIG. 7E BracketsClub Car Precedent 4 Seater with “Custom Golf Car Supply” Roof withTrack system. Club Car DS 2 Seater FIG. 9a Front FIG. 10a Front left andright FIG. 9b Drivers Rear FIG. 10b Passenger Rear FIG. 9c PassengerRear FIG. 10c Drivers Rear FIG. 10d Brace EZ-Go 2 Seater with FIG. 11ACart with brackets installed FIG. 11B Brackets

FIG. 7 a-7 c, plan views, illustrate brackets designed to fit Club Car'sPrecedent which is a two-seater golf car. Although the examples providedherein name only four specific models and sizes, it is to be understoodthat the invention includes panels, spindles, and brackets that fit andwork with all models and sizes of open-air cars including E-Z-GO,Yamaha, STAR Car, Columbia Par Car, and Tomberlin, for example. Two ofthe bracket illustrated in FIG. 7 a will, after shaping, support boththe driver's-side front left panel and the passenger's side front rightof a panel. To connect the bracket to the horizontal part of the roofstanchion oriented parallel to the long axis of the car on thedriver's-side, bracket parts 42 a and 42 b of a first bracket are foldedup along fold line 2 and fold line 1 so that the front side of thebracket parts (the side that are seen on the drawing) are folded towardeach other, respectively and are then ready to be position about theroof stanchion. After removing the bolts that are securing the cart'sroof to its support, the folded brackets are positioned so that bracketattachment bolt apertures 41 are aligned with the bolt holes of the roofsupports. Bolts are then bolted through bolt receiving apertures 41 intothe bolt openings of the stanchion. Bracket part 42 c has been folded inthe opposite direction to position spring roller receiving aperture 66for accepting the spring roller end of the spindle of the driver's sidepanel. To date, all of the brackets are designed so that the springroller end of the spindle is held in the aperture that is located at thefront end of the car. To connect second bracket to the horizontal partof the roof stanchion on the passenger's side of the car orientedparallel to the long axis of the car, bracket parts 42 a and 42 b arefolded up along fold line 2 and fold line 1 so that the back side of thebracket parts (the side that does not show on the drawing) are foldedtoward each other, respectively and are then ready to be position aboutthe roof stanchion. After removing the bolts that are securing thecart's roof to its support, the folded brackets are positioned so thatbracket attachment bolt apertures 41 are aligned with the bolt holes ofthe roof supports. Bolts are then bolted through bolt receivingapertures 41 into the bolt openings of the stanchion roof support.Second bracket part 42 c, after having been folded in the oppositedirection, is ready to support the spring roller end of the spindle ofthe passenger's side panel in spring roller receiving aperture 66. Thereare two brackets for installation onto the rear end of the roofstanchion. FIG. 7 b illustrates the left rear, or the driver's-side,bracket and FIG. 7 c illustrates the right rear, or the passenger's sidebracket. These brackets provide the attachment mechanisms for bothspindle rotating control ends of the side panels and both ends of theback panel. Bracket 100, custom designed for the left rear, or thedriver's-side of Club Car's Precedent two seater, is shaped for use bybending bracket part 94 along fold line 3 ninety degrees towards bracketpart 92, bracket part 96 is then bent along fold line 2 toward bracketpart 92 about forty-five degrees, and finally bracket part 98 is bentabout forty-five degrees along fold line 1 away from bracket part 92.Tab 78 must then be folded along fold line 9 ninety degrees in thedirection of outside the drawing page. Bracket 100 is now shaped so thatbolt hole 76 can be positioned on the roof support stanchion on thedriver's-side of the car ready to support the chain end of spindle 40 ofthe driver's-side panel in the lock tab apertures 12, 14, 12, and tab 78is positioned to support the driver's-side chain end of the spindle ofthe back panel. Threaded aperture 8 receives a set screw (not shown) tolock the mechanism to the bracket. FIG. 7 c illustrates the right rear,or the passenger's side bracket 102. Bracket 102 is folded in ananalogous manner to bracket 100 so that the two brackets are mirrorimages of each other except for two small, but important differences.Bracket 102 has two additional folds of about forty-five degrees inopposite directions along fold lines 3 a and 3 b so that sections 106and 110 are made parallel to each other, but separated a distance of thewidth of section 108. The fold of about forty-five degrees starts byfolding section 108 away from section 104. Bracket 102 is now shaped sothat bolt hole 76 can be positioned on the roof support stanchion on thepassenger's side of the car ready to support the chain end of spindle 40of the passenger's side panel in the lock tab apertures 12, 14, 12, andaperture 79 is positioned to support the passenger's side, chain end ofthe spindle of the back panel. Threaded aperture 8 receives a set screw(not shown) to lock the mechanism to the bracket.

FIG. 7D, a perspective view, illustrates a set of brackets installed ina two-seater Club Car Precedent golf car with driver's side, passenger'sside, and rear enclosure panels 31 in place. The 2-Seater Precedentcomes with a roof and roof support stanchions. There are two front roofsupports 25 and two rear roof supports 25. Following the principles ofthe inventive concept, the brackets that support the protective panels,are bolted directly to these roof supports using the same bolt aperturesthat bolt the roof to the roof support. To install the brackets, theexisting bolts that are holding the roof to the roof support stanchionsare removed, the brackets are positioned about the stanchion so that thebolt holes of the bracket are aligned with the preexisting bolt holes ofthe stanchion and the bolts are replaced. This installation takes from10 to 20 minutes. No alteration of the cart is required to mount thebrackets. If desired, instead of replacing the bolts that were removed,slightly longer bolts may be used to take into account the thickness ofthe brackets.

FIG. 7E, a perspective view, illustrates a set of brackets to holdenclosure panels on a two-seater Club Car Precedent golf car, as shownin FIG. 7D. As explained above, there are four separate bracketsrequired to install three enclosure panels, a driver's side, apassenger's side, and a rear panel. The bracket set required for theinstallation of a protective panel on the driver's side consists offront bracket 95 and rear bracket 100. The two brackets that support aprotective panel on the passenger side consists of a second frontbracket 95 and rear bracket 102. Rear brackets 100 and 102 also providethe installation mechanisms 78 and 79 in bracket part 92 and 110,respectively, to support the spindle part of a rear protective panel.Rear bracket sections 106 and 92 each have an aperture 76 that is usedto bolt the rear brackets to the preexisting bolt holes in the rear roofsupport stanchions. Front brackets 95 are all cut from the same die withone side used for the driver's side and the reverse side used for thepassenger's side. Each front bracket 95 has an end with bracket parts 42a and 42 b that are structured to be bolted to each of the front roofsupports and an end 42 c with aperture 66 for receiving the spring endof a protective enclosure panel spindle part. Rear driver's sidebrackets 100 and 102 each include two apertures 12 and one aperture 14for directly supporting the second end of the driver's side protectivepanel. Details of how front brackets 95 are folded so as to be installedon one side of the cart or the other are discussed above, in relation toFIG. 7 a.

FIG. 8 a-8 c, plan views, illustrate the brackets designed to fit a ClubCar DS with a rear seat kit and a Custom Golf Car Supply roof. Currentlyall four seaters for which brackets are currently available have had theoriginal roof of the car replaced by a long-top roof, made by CustomGolf Car Supply. This roof is unique in that it is supported on a tracksystem, and, thus, the brackets for this car are designed to be attachedto the tracks of the track system. Bracket 120, as illustrated in FIG. 8a, is designed to be used on both the front left (that is, thedriver's-side) and the front right (the passenger's side). To connectthe bracket to the horizontal part of the roof stanchion on thedriver's-side oriented parallel to the long axis of the car, bracketsection 126 is bent less than ninety degrees along fold line 2 towardsthe back facing surface of bracket section 125 (the face of the bracketthat we cannot see on the drawing) and then bracket section 127 is bentless than ninety degrees along fold line 1 so that the section 127 ofthe bracket is spaced from and parallel to section 125 with section 126between them. Bracket 120 is then ready to be bolted onto the front railof the driver's-side. Bolts are then bolted through bolt receivingapertures 76 and into the bolt openings made into the double groovetrack system in the rail system where one groove holds the valance. Asecond bracket 120 is then shaped in an analogous manner to produce amirror image of the first bracket 120. Once the second bracket 120 isbolted to the track system, the pair of brackets 120 (first and secondbracket 120) are ready to support the spring end of each of the spindlesof the opposing side panels in opposing receiving apertures 66. FIG. 8 billustrates bracket 122 for the left rear (the driver's-side rear-end)and FIG. 8 c illustrates bracket 124 for the right rear (the passenger'sside rear-end). These brackets provide the attachment mechanisms forboth the rear (or chain mechanism) ends of the side panels and the backpanel. Bracket 122, was devised for use on the left rear, or thedriver's-side of Custom Golf Car Supply's roof that they designed forthe DS four seater, and is shaped (folded) for use by bending bracketpart 132L along fold line 1 about forty-five degrees towards the frontof (the side facing the viewer of the page) bracket part 130L, bracketpart 134L is then bent back along fold line 2 so as to be brought to beparallel to, but spaced from 130. Bracket part 136L is then bent aboutalong fold line 3 to extend under and behind 130 and so that its face isat a about a ninety degrees angle from the face of bracket part 134L.Tabs 137 a and 137 b are then bent upwards along fold lines 4 a and 4 b.Bracket 122 is now shaped so that bolt holes 76 can be positioned andbolted onto the part of the track system located at the rear end of thedriver's-side of the car to support the chain mechanism end of spindle40 of the driver's-side panel using lock tab 137 b to support thedriver's-side chain end of the spindle of the driver's-side side-paneland lock tab 137 a to support the back-side panel's chain end of itsspindle. FIG. 8 c illustrates the right rear, or the passenger's sidebracket 124. Bracket 124 is folded in a nearly mirror image manner tobracket 122, with one difference. Instead of having two legs both endingwith lock tabs (such as lock tabs 137 a and 137 b of bracket 122),bracket 124 has one lock tab 137 a leg and one wider leg 134 havingreceiving aperture 66. Once bracket 124 is bolted onto that part of thetrack system located at the rear end of the passenger's-side of the carusing bolt holes 76, lock tab 137 a is positioned to support the chainmechanism end of the spindle of the passenger's-side panel and receivingaperture 66 is positioned to support the back-side panel's spring-actionend of its spindle.

FIG. 9 a-9 c are plan views of brackets designed to fit a Club CarPrecedent cart that has a rear seat kit with a Custom Golf Car Supplyroof. Currently, as mentioned above, all four seaters for which bracketsare currently available have had the original roof of the car replacedby a four-seater roof, made by “Custom Golf Car Supply”, that issupported on a track system, and, thus, the brackets for this car aredesigned to be attached to the tracks of the track system. Bracket 140,as illustrated in FIG. 9 a, is designed to be used on both the frontleft (that is, the driver's-side) and the front right (the passenger'sside). To connect the bracket to the horizontal part of the roofstanchion on the driver's-side oriented parallel to the long axis of thecar, bracket section 144 is bent less than ninety degrees along foldline 1 towards the back facing surface of bracket section 142 (the faceof the bracket that we cannot see on the drawing) and then bracketsection 146 is bent less than ninety degrees along fold line 2 so thatsection 142 of the bracket is spaced from and parallel to section 146with section 144 between them. Bracket 140 is then ready to be boltedonto the rails of the driver's-side. Bolts are then bolted through boltreceiving apertures 76 and into the bolt openings of the track system inthe rail system that holds the valence. A second bracket 140 is thenshaped in an analogous manner to produce a mirror image of the firstbracket 140. Once the second bracket 140 is bolted to the track system,the pair of brackets 140 (first and second bracket 120) are ready tosupport the spring end of each of the spindles of the opposing sidepanels in opposing receiving apertures 66. FIG. 9 b illustrates bracket150 for the left rear (the driver's-side rear-end) and FIG. 9 cillustrates bracket 155 for the right rear (the passenger's siderear-end). These brackets, which are identical to the bracketsillustrated in FIGS. 9 b and 9 c, provide the attachment mechanisms forboth the rear (or chain mechanism) ends of the side panels and the chainmechanism end and the spring action end of the back panel's spindle.

FIG. 10 a-10 d are plan views of brackets designed to fit a Club Car DStwo-seater. The bracket illustrated in FIG. 10 a is designed to be usedon both the front left (that is, the driver's-side) and the front right(the passenger's side). To connect the bracket to the horizontal part ofthe roof stanchion on the driver's-side oriented parallel to the longaxis of the car, bracket parts 161 and 162 are each bent along fold linetowards their back sides (the sides that are not able to be seen on thedrawing) to be ready to be position about the roof stanchion. Bolts arethen bolted through bolt receiving apertures 76 and 76 into thestanchion. Spring roller receiving aperture 66 is thus positioned foraccepting the spring roller end of the spindle of the driver's sidepanel. To date, as mentioned above, all of the brackets are designed sothat the spring roller end of the spindle is held in the aperture thatis located at the front end of the car. To connect a second bracket tothe horizontal part of the roof stanchion on the passenger's side of thecar oriented parallel to the long axis of the car, bracket parts 161 and162 are each bent along fold line towards their front sides (the sidesthat are able to be seen on the drawing) to be ready to be positionabout the roof stanchion. Bolts are then bolted through bolt receivingapertures into the bolt openings of the stanchion. FIG. 10 b illustratesthe right rear, or the passenger's side bracket 164. Section 165R andsection 167R of bracket 164 are bent up towards each other along foldlines 3 and 4, respectively so that the two faces of section 165R andsection 167R that we can see on the drawing are facing each other toform a “U” shape with section 166R forming the bottom of the “U”. Theheight of these two brackets is greater than that of the other bracketsso that there are two additional bolt holes for supporting the bracket.Bolt apertures 76 a then can be bolted directly to the folded-down edgeof the roof and bolt apertures 76 can be bolted to the roof supportingstanchions. Section 168R must then be bent along fold line 2 away fromsection 165R at an angle of about ninety degrees and section 169R mustbe bent along fold line 1 back toward section 165 also at an angle ofabout ninety degrees, Bracket 164 is now shaped so that once bolted, asdescribed above, aperture 66 is in position to support thespring-mechanism end of the back panel's spindle and tab 169R ispositioned to provide support for the passenger's side chain end of thespindle of the side panel by being inserted into the slot provided onthe spindle for that purpose. FIG. 10 c illustrates the left rear, orthe driver's-side, bracket. Bracket 174, is bent along fold lines 3 and4 in a nearly mirror image manner to bracket 164, with one difference.Instead of having one working end having a receiving aperture 66 whilethe other working end has a tab connection, both working ends 169L and170L provide tab connectors. Once bolted, as described above, tab 170Lis positioned to support the chain mechanism end of the spindle of theback-panel and tab 169L is positioned to support the chain mechanism endof the spindle of the driver's side. Brace 176, as illustrated in FIG.10 d, is a brace to provide support for bracket 160 to prevent it frombending in toward the vehicle's interior.

FIG. 11A, perspective view, illustrates an EZ-Go cart equipped with aset of brackets according to the principles of the present inventionsupporting a driver's side, passenger's side, and rear enclosure panel31. The EZ-Go cart is usually offered with a roof and roof supportstanchions. There are two front roof supports 25 and two rear roofsupports 25. The brackets of the inventive concept that support theprotective panels are bolted directly to the roof supports using thesame bolt apertures that bolt the roof to the roof support. To installthe brackets, the existing bolts that are holding the roof to the roofsupport stanchions are removed, the brackets are positioned over thestanchion so that the bolt holes of the bracket are aligned with thepreexisting bolt holes of the stanchion and the bolts are replaced. Thisinstallation takes from 10 to 20 minutes. No alteration of the cart isrequired to mount the brackets. If desired, instead of replacing thebolts that were removed, slightly longer bolts may be used to take intoaccount the thickness of the brackets.

FIG. 11B, a perspective view, illustrates a set of brackets for use onan EZ-Go golf car, as shown in FIG. 11A. There are four separate customdesigned brackets to support driver's side, passenger's side, and rearenclosure panels. The bracket set required for the installation of aprotective panel on the driver's side consists of front bracket 204 andrear bracket 206. The two brackets that support a protective panel onthe passenger side consists of a second front bracket 205 and rearbracket 207. Rear brackets 205 and 207 also provide the installationmechanisms 78 and 66 to support a rear protective panel. Rear bracketsections 206 and 207 each have an aperture 41 that is used to bolt therear brackets to the preexisting bolt holes in the rear roof supportstanchions. To position brackets 206 and 207, the bolts securing theroof to the roof stanchions are removed, the roof is lifted, thebrackets are slide over the stanchion and the bolts replaced. Each frontbracket 204 and 205 has an aperture 41 for securing the bracket to thefront panels and an aperture 66 (as shown on bracket 207) for receivingthe spring end of a protective enclosure panel spindle.

The protective panels, following the inventive concept as taught herein,provide complete protection for the interior of the car on which theyare installed. The panels all may be detachably attached to theirimmediately adjacent panel(s). The complete protection provided by therear panel was discussed in detail above. The front of the car, fromdriver's side roof support to passenger's side roof support is protectedfrom the elements by a front windshield that is usually provided on openair cars. So that the driver's and passenger's side protective panelsmay also provide complete enclosure for the car, that is, so that theopen gap between the front edge of the driver's and passenger's sideprotective panels and the front roof supports can be completely closed,each of the front edges of the driver's and passenger's side protectivepanels is fitted with a connector, such as a zipper, to provide for eachto be sealed to a vent panel that in turn is affixed to a front roofsupport. Each vent panel 250 is a small panel positioned to cover thegap that otherwise would be between the front roof supports 25 and theside panels. Each vent panel 250 is installed onto the cart using awningsleeve rails 252, also referred to as slide tracks. Each slide track 252is fixedly attached to one of the two front roof supports 25. Each ofthe vent panels is fitted with a welt 254 on one of its two long sides.Each welt 254 slides easily into a slide track 252. On the other longside of each of the vent panels there is a connector, such as zipper256, that provides for connection of each of the side panels to theiradjacent vent panel, thus providing for the car to be completelyenclosed and protected from the elements.

Thus, the inventive concept of providing brackets for supportingenclosure panels on open air cars that require no alteration to the car,only about 20 minutes installation time, and are attached to thepre-existing bolt holes that are used to bolt the car's roof to its roofsupporting stanchions on has been shown. The brackets taught herein areinstalled on preexisting roof supports (vertical or horizontal) usingonly the preexisting bolt holes in the roof supports and either thebolts that are used to fix the roof to the stanchions or the slightlyelongated bolts that are part of the invention or they may be installeddirectly to the roof. Only 4 brackets are required to support threepanels, the driver's side panel, the passenger's side, and the rearpanel.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specificand defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of theinvention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details, such as attachment of the panels to roof supportsare not required in order to practice the invention, that is, attachmentof the panels may be made directly to the roof, for example. Theforegoing description of the specific embodiment is presented forpurposes of illustration and description and is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made tothe features, embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of theinvention described herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited tothe described methods, embodiments, features or combinations of featuresbut include all the variation, methods, modifications, and combinationsof features within the scope of the appended claims. The claimedinvention is limited only by the claims.

1. A set of brackets, comprising: a first front bracket directlysecurable to a driver's side front roof support of an open-air car and afirst end of a spindle part of a driver's side protective panel directlysupportable by said first front bracket; a second front bracket directlysecurable to a passenger's side front roof support of the open-air carand a first end of the spindle part of a passenger's side protectivepanel's directly supportable by said first front bracket; a first rearbracket directly securable to a driver's side back roof support of theopen-air car and a second end of said spindle part of said driver's sideprotective panel and a first end of a spindle part of the rear paneldirectly supportable by said first rear bracket, and a second rearbracket directly securable to a passenger's side back roof support ofthe open-air car and a second end of said spindle part of saidpassenger's side protective panel and a second end of said spindle partof said rear panel directly supportable by said second rear bracket,said first and second front brackets and said first and second rearbrackets each to be secured to one of said roof supports using onlypreexisting roof support bolt holes requiring no modification to theopen-air car providing for only four brackets to support threeprotective panels.
 2. The set of brackets, as recited in claim 1 whereineach of said front brackets are both from the same die.
 3. The set ofbrackets, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first end of each of saidspindle parts of said panels is the spring-action end and said secondend of each of said spindle parts of said panels is a panelheight-adjustment mechanism end.
 4. The set of brackets, as recited inclaim 2, further include a driver's side vent panel 250 positionedbetween and connectable to the driver's side front roof support 25 andthe driver's side protective panel and a passenger's side vent panel 250positioned between and connectable to the passenger's side front roofsupport the passenger's side protective panel.
 5. The set of brackets,as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second front brackets andsaid first and second rear brackets are custom shaped for securing tothe roof supports of a 2-Seater Club Car Precedent Golf Cart.
 6. The setof brackets, as recited in claim 5, wherein each bracket of said set ofbrackets are directly securable to the roof supports using receivingpre-existing roof support bolt holes, further comprising a first and asecond front driver's side bracket 95 each having a front roof supportattachment 42; a rear driver's side bracket 100 having a rear roofsupport attachment 76, and a rear passenger's side bracket 102 having arear roof support attachment
 76. 7. The set of brackets, as recited inclaim 6, wherein each of said first and second front driver's sidebrackets 95 include an aperture 66 for directly supporting said firstend of said spindle parts of said driver's side and said passenger'sside protective panels.
 8. The set of brackets, as recited in claim 7,wherein said rear driver's side bracket 100 includes apertures 12 and 14for directly supporting said second end of said spindle part of saiddriver's side protective panel.
 9. The set of brackets, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said rear driver's side bracket 102 includes apertures12 and 14 for directly supporting said second end of said spindle partof said driver's side protective panel.
 10. The set of brackets, asrecited in claim 9, wherein said rear driver's side bracket 100 includestabs 78 for directly supporting said second end of said spindle part ofsaid rear protective panel and said rear driver's side bracket 110includes an aperture 79 for directly supporting said first end of saidspindle part of said rear protective panel.
 11. The set of brackets, asrecited in claim 4, wherein said first and second front brackets andsaid first and second rear brackets are custom shaped for beingsecurable to the roof supports of an EZ-Go Golf Cart.
 12. The set ofbrackets, as recited in claim 11 wherein each bracket of said set ofbrackets are directly securable to the roof supports using receivingpre-existing receiving pre-existing roof support bolt holes, furthercomprising a first front driver's side bracket 204 having front roofsupport attachment 41; a second front driver's side bracket 205 havingfront roof support attachment 41, a rear driver's side bracket 206having rear roof support attachment 41, a rear passenger's side bracket207 having rear roof support attachment
 41. 13. The set of brackets, asrecited in claim 12, wherein each of said first and second frontdriver's side brackets, 204 and 205, each include an aperture 66 fordirectly supporting said first end of said spindle parts of saiddriver's side and said passenger's side protective panels.
 14. The setof brackets, as recited in claim 13, wherein said rear driver's sidebracket 206 includes tabs 78 for directly supporting said second end ofsaid spindle part of said driver's side protective panel.
 15. The set ofbrackets, as recited in claim 14, wherein said rear driver's sidebracket 203 includes tabs 78 for directly supporting said second end ofsaid spindle part of said driver's side protective panel.
 16. The set ofbrackets, as recited in claim 15, wherein said rear driver's sidebracket 206 includes tabs 78 for directly supporting said second end ofsaid spindle part of said rear protective panel and said rear driver'sside bracket 207 includes an aperture 66 for directly supporting saidfirst end of said spindle part of said rear protective panel. 17.Protective panels with supporting brackets for use in open-air cars,comprising: a first front bracket directly securable to a driver's sidefront roof support on an open-air car and a first end of a spindle partof a driver's side protective panel directly supportable by said firstfront bracket; a second front bracket directly securable to apassenger's side front roof support of the open-air car and a first endof a spindle part of a passenger's side protective panel directlysupportable by said first front bracket; a first rear bracket directlysecurable to a driver's side back roof support of the open-air car and asecond end of said spindle part of said driver's side protective paneland a first end of a spindle part of a rear panel directly supportableby said first rear bracket, and a second rear bracket directly securableto a passenger's side back roof support of the open-air car and a secondend of a spindle part of said passenger's side protective panel and asecond end of said spindle part of said rear panel directly supportableby said second rear bracket, said first and second front brackets andsaid first and second rear brackets each to be secured to one of saidroof supports using only preexisting roof support bolt holes requiringno modification to the open-air car providing for only four brackets tosupport three protective panels.
 18. The protective panels, as recitedin claim 17, wherein only a single panel is required per side ofopen-air vehicle.
 19. The set of brackets, as recited in claim 18,wherein each spindle of said panels is a rotable spindle and said firstend of each spindle is a spring-action end and each second end of eachspindle is a panel height-adjustment mechanism end.
 20. A protectivepanel and supporting brackets for use in combination with open-air cars,comprising: a first front bracket directly securable to a driver's sidefront roof support on an open-air car and a first end of a spindle partof a driver's side protective panel directly supportable by said firstfront bracket; a second front bracket directly securable to apassenger's side front roof support of the open-air car and a first endof a spindle part of a passenger's side protective panel directlysupportable by said second front bracket; a first rear bracket directlysecurable to a driver's side back roof support of the open-air car and asecond end of said spindle part of said driver's side protective paneland a first end of a spindle part of a rear panel directly supportableby said first rear bracket, and a second rear bracket directly securableto a passenger's side back roof support of the open-air car and a secondend of said spindle part of said passenger's side protective panel and asecond end of said spindle part of said rear panel directly supportableby said second rear bracket, said first and second front brackets andsaid first and second rear brackets each to be secured to one of saidroof supports using only preexisting roof support bolt holes requiringno modification to the open-air car.